Overview
- Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
- Bill: HD 6118
- Session: 194th
- Topic: Safe and Supportive Schools Commission – Tenth Annual Report under the Safe and Supportive Schools Framework Law (G.L. c. 69, § 1P)
This bill essentially transmits the Safe and Supportive Schools Commission’s tenth annual report from April 2026, including its recommendations and department activities, to the Governor and relevant legislative committees. It codifies ongoing reporting requirements and outlines three core recommendations to advance Safe and Supportive Schools goals.
Main purpose and intent
- To provide an annual progress update on safe and supportive schools in Massachusetts, including recommendations and potential legislative changes.
- To inform the Legislature and key committees about ongoing work, outcomes, and next steps related to the Safe and Supportive Schools Framework Law (G.L. c. 69, § 1P) and related Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) activities.
- To outline concrete recommendations intended to strengthen funding, collaboration with families, accessibility of clinical and culturally/linguistically appropriate services, and statutory alignment with school planning processes.
Key provisions and changes
1) Executive content of the report
- Presents the Safe and Supportive Schools Commission’s tenth annual report, including:
- Recommendations to the Legislature
- Commission activities from 2024 (and related Department activities)
- Highlights from grantee action plans and DESE contract work
- Legislative context and potential changes to state law
2) Commission recommendations (three-part framework)
- Recommendation 1: Maintain funding for Safe and Supportive Schools through the line item 7061-9612 and related complementary funds through FY2026.
- Emphasizes sustaining current funding levels to advance: MTSS, student well-being, family engagement, teacher professional development, and related supports.
- Recommendation 2: Increase student engagement and attendance by boosting school-family collaboration and access to clinically, culturally, and linguistically appropriate services.
- Encourages state and local capacity building for authentic family engagement, equity-focused practices, and robust MTSS with culturally sustaining approaches.
- Proposes specific supports such as expanding SISP staff, professional development, family engagement initiatives, and access to health and behavioral services.
- Recommendation 3: Strengthen Safe and Supported Schools through legislative changes.
- Calls for updates to statutes to explicitly include historically underserved student groups, emphasize integrated services, and connect Safe and Supportive Schools with School Council and District Improvement Plan/Student Opportunity Act processes.
- Suggests expanding definitions of success indicators and explicitly referencing mental/behavioral health services.
- Encourages increasing student voice, potentially expanding the number of student representatives on the Commission.
- Notes abstentions by certain DESE and Secretary-designee members on voting for these proposed changes.
3) Administrative and implementation details
- Describes 2024 Commission activities, including five meetings (one canceled for quorum issues), spotlight presentations, and stakeholder discussions.
- Outlines DESE’s 2024 activities related to G.L. c. 69, § 1P(f), including grants, evaluation, professional development, and support activities.
- Documents changes in Commission membership during 2024 and acknowledges departing members and new appointees.
- Summarizes the role of the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) in reviewing grantee action plans and its findings on focus areas (student behavior, family engagement, SEL, and student voice).
- Provides context on the Safe and Supportive Schools line item’s mandate to analyze school-wide action plans and district improvement plans and to report results and recommendations.
Who would be affected
- School districts, charters, regional schools, educational collaboratives, and other DESE-funded entities implementing Safe and Supportive Schools (SSS) measures.
- Local education agencies (LEAs) and schools applying for or receiving SSS grants and complementary funds.
- District and school leaders responsible for district improvement plans and Student Opportunity Act (SOA) planning.
- Families and students, particularly those from historically underserved groups (e.g., BIPOC, English Learners, homeless students, LGBTQ students, students with disabilities) through enhanced engagement and access to services.
- DESE, as the administrator of the SSS framework, its funding streams, and its coordination with other state agencies.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- The report is due under the Safe and Supportive Schools Framework Law, with annual progress reporting required by December 31 each year.
- The current document is the tenth annual report (April 2026) and references 2024 Commission activities and 2024 Department activities.
- Legislative recommendations target fiscal years through FY2026 and address potential statutory amendments to strengthen coherence between SSS and related school improvement planning laws.
- The bill notes abstentions on Recommendation 3 from certain designees, reflecting neutrality on proposed statutory changes.
Additional context
- The document emphasizes alignment with DESE’s EdVision, focusing on whole-student supports, equitable opportunities, and culturally/linguistically sustaining practices.
- It references ongoing structures like MTSS, family engagement initiatives, and professional development to build sustainable, anti-racist, inclusive school cultures.
- Appendices and legislative charges outline the Commission’s composition, duties, and statutory connections to related laws (School Councils, SOA, district improvement planning, etc.).
